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This month, aptm—one of Berlin’s most intriguing new design destinations—unveiled its latest installation, Dolce. Conceived to look like a fabulous private home, the revamped aptm is decked out in a carefully curated, sophisticated mix of shoppable items from around the globe and is available to rent for fashion shows, private parties, photo shoots, and beyond. It has already drawn a stylishly well-heeled crowd since opening in June, quickly establishing itself as one of the city’s most interesting new concept spaces—a coup in a city that truly relishes its concept spaces.

The 230-square-meter space is wholly remade from head-to-toe every few months under a new theme. Describing the inspiration behind Dolce, aptm founder Chris Glass tells us, “I’ve been in Italy several times this year—Tuscany, Florence, Milan, Rome—and one of the things that struck me most is the flair with which Italians live. From food and language to design and fashion, they don’t just do it well, they do it better. Whether simple or ornate, there is a richness and an attention to detail in Italian living that can’t be ignored. I wanted to illustrate this with Dolce. What began as a nod to la dolce vita morphed into a celebration of how sweet life is when it’s composed of moments to be savored. Dolce is a call to seize the day, live in the moment, indulge in the now, be.”

In comparison to the space’s debut installation, which centered, aptly, on the theme of Birth through a playful pinky-grey pallet, Dolce is decidedly more moody and seductive. Glass has, once again, put together a beautiful presentation, setting the stage with dark green walls—which, in various lighting, shift from a rich pine hue to a gray-green or even a midnight blue—and dark charcoal floors. These are topped with another eclectic yet savvy arrangement of vintage and contemporary pieces—several, we’re proud to note, from Pamono and its design partners, as well as the likes of Bocci, Camera Work, Barthouse, Gestalten, Rosenthal, and others. Describing his selection, Glass explains, “In terms of objects, I wanted to source things that inspired a sense of fantasy without being cliché or overtly ornate.”

Asked to point to a few of his favorite elements this time around, Glass is happy to note several. “The subtle detail of the third leg and the hooved feet on the 1950s mahogany night stands by Carlo De Carli remind me of Roman chariots. The Handmade Fiberglass Chair by Rudi Bonzanini for Tecnosalotto reminds me of a Dalí work. The mixed metal base of the Pierre Cardin GridCoffee Table evokes the skeletal system often used by architect Renzo Piano. And the Masai Diamond Mirror by Serena Confalonieri reminds me of a wrapped caramel that you can’t wait to open.”

He goes on: “Using a wooden highboard instead of a sideboard or shelving system was a choice in terms of scale and material. I went for something that could easily live in a modern day palazzo. And I personally am in lust with the Céleste Mobile from LaLoul and the 1970s Swiss Brass and Frosted Glass Globes Floor Lamp from Temde. Whimsy will perhaps always be part of how I create interior spaces because I personally enjoy the way these elements remind us to smile and not take things too seriously.”

The space will continue to host a variety of events over the next few months against its stylish Dolce backdrop (including design-centric programming curated and produced by Pamono). Asked for a hint of what’s to follow, Glass says, “Our next installation will premiere in January, and the theme is already set. For now the theme is a secret, but hopefully it will also be a strong contrast to what we’ve done thus far and continue our charge to inspire and delight.”

“We want to be a resource for consumers that love collectible design as much as we do,” Glass concludes. “We want to help soften the fear that people have about living with design and also help people comprehend how to integrate it into their own style.”

*You can follow all of aptm’s upcoming events and news by signing up for its mailing list here.

Images by

Ramtin Zanjani

Beyond his role as Pamono’s Head of Photography, Ramtin has honed his keen eye through years of product shoots, art direction, advertising, and documentary work. He doesn’t like to talk about it, but he has some searing photographs available at SaatchiArt.com.